The Balkans

Autochthoinos recommends the following books for those interested in learning about wines from the Balkans, including Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Greece.

Vinologue Dalmatia – by Elia Varela Serra and Miquel Hudin – “Just north of Dubrovnik, vineyards cling to the side of steep hills, bathing in the sun. On islands such as Hvar and Korčula, grapes spring up from old stone terraces that were built before anyone can remember. It’s here on these shores that amazing wines with exotic names such as Dingač, Postup, and Plavac Mali are made. This is also where the familiar grape we know as Zinfandel (locally called Crljenak) originally came from.”

Vinologue Herzegovina – by Elia Varela Serra and Miquel Hudin – “A land a strife, upheaval, and some of the warmest people you’ll ever meet, Herzegovina produces some of the most reliably tasty wines around that are still by and large undiscovered. The grapes of Blatina and Žilavka grow abundantly along these rolling, inland hills and valleys and provide a great variety of delicious flavors. Let our guide take you in to the interior and explore these wines.”

The Wines of Greece (Mitchell Beazley Classic Wine Library) – by Konstantinos Lazarakis – “Since the 1990s, the Greek wine industry has grown its exports significantly while the wines increasingly win internationally recognized awards. This reference to the 11 official wine-producing regions of Greece covers the vineyards, wines and wineries and grape varieties, with in-depth producer profiles for each. The unique historical aspects of Greece’s wine industry – from its wine laws to vital wine-production statistics focusing on continued wine developments – are covered in full. A practical guide to reading Greek wine labels and buying Greek wine is included, and 15 maps detail the key winemaking areas.”